Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-08-25
A GOOD DOG STORY.
Translated from the French Of
Sacher Masoch.

night had set in. The sound of fire.
arms might still be heard in the dis
lance The wood was held by bat
TALON of French marines, who had re-
ceived orders to cover the retreat. The
whole village was on fire, from one end
to the other. The heavy tread of the
Prussian columns, as they filed through
the main street, resounded with dull
monotony on the icy snow. The
mounted officers were muffled in long
overcoats, and when the steeds snorted
the breath of the horses nostrils seemed
to freeze in the air. The quiet, gloomy,
starlit sky, toward which fog cloud
of smoke scared upwards in the dis
lance, appeared to rest on broad
basement of riven flame.
Outside the village extended the
large, open courtyard of a farm
which, although it-stood alone, had al
80 become prey to the devouring ele-
ment. The confagration had gained
the roof, cock-loft and cattle-houses,
and formed a steadily advancing sheet
of fire. A thousand lambent tongues
of flame shot beyond the charred
walls toward the orchard fruit trees
and the tall poplars along the road. A
corpse was stretched full length in
front of the courtyard door; but, be-
yond the Kissing and cracking of the
flames, every thing around was silent
and deserted.
Suddenly the mad howl of power
full watch dog broke the stiffness of the
gloom. In vain did the poor beast
wrench on the chain that throttled him
and howl at his approaching fate The
Prusslan soldiery, who had left house
and home, wife and children, to fight
their hereditary foe, were deaf even to
the cries of mercy which fell from the
lips of human being. How, then,
could such men be expected to stop in
their victorious career to unbind the
leash of so insignificant an object as 9
wretched dogp
The battalion had already marched
by, and only few stragglers remained
behind. One of them stopped, shout
dered his rife-strap, and peered into
the yard. He saw the dog and pitiet
the poor brute. The man was Pole
and had some heart. He remembered
the dear old mastiff which had lief
home to follow HIM in the pressed
campaign and had died in ditch by
the roadside. He cautiously entered
the blazing courtyard and approached
the kennel. The watch dog came ou
and took confidence at the light blu'
eyes and open countenance of the stall
wart deliver Ell. The Pole unstrapped tn,
leather collar and the poor animal wa
free!
1t was large white dog, with wool.
coat, long tail and pointed ears. l
started to follow the stranger; but, oil
reaching the dead man at the farm
yard door, it drew near slowly, timidl,
scented the lifeless body, and began Il
whine. The faithful creature had rec
ognized its master, and began licking
his brown and callous hand. Vainl,
the soldier beckoned, called AM
whistled; he had to drag the ANNA
away from the corpse, after passing
round its neck rope which had serves
the purpose of a girdle to the dog
dead master.
The French had retired and the Prus
sian battalion had pitched its camp o.
the outskirts of the wood. Fires wer
kindled, and he who had wine or bran
DIV in his gourd gave some to the rest
The comrades drew near to Flavia
Volnizki, as the landwehrman wa
called; they looked at the dog an
made fun of the soft-hesrted "Polak.
He only frowned and held his peace
The dog, who seemed to understan
that the jeering mood of the soldier
might influence his new master to &c
rid of him, caressed his hand with il
nose, or looked up at him and wagge
its tail. Still, for many days the an
NAL refused all kinds of nourishmen
Once only. while the column was o
march, and several men left the rank
to drink at stream. the dog went
the bank and Tapped up the water wit
feverish avidity.
One day. fearful battle was Tough
When the struggle was over and Il
soldiers were gathered round the
camp-kettles. the dog crouched at i
friends feet and looked up at hin
The Pole offered the now well-nig
tsmished animal the nnd Of 3 pie